Brockton area women going to New York to help Hurricane Sandy victims

Three local women inspired by the stories of Hurricane Sandy victims will spend the weekend in a Long Island town passing out donations.

By Erin Shannon

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Erin Shannon

Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 15, 2012 at 3:11 PM

By Erin Shannon

Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 15, 2012 at 3:11 PM

EASTON

» Social News

Helene Doherty started to cry when she told the story of her 10-year-old nephew giving his money from the tooth fairy to his mother to buy gas.

Doherty’s sister lives in North Merrick, N.Y., on Long Island, one of many towns ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. They went more than a week without power and have to wait in hour-long lines to buy gas, which can cost $10 a gallon.

“I just felt so guilty sitting in my warm house hearing these stories,” said Doherty, 50, of North Easton, through tears. “It was my time to do something.”

Doherty and two co-workers – Patricia McKay, 56, of Whitman and Katie Quilitzsch , 41, of West Bridgewater – have spent the last two weeks collecting donations to bring down to North Merrick, N.Y., this weekend.

“The support has been overwhelming,” said McKay.

The three women, who have shared lunch at the Dunkin’ Donuts in the Village Shoppes Plaza on Washington Street in Easton, decided to head down to help while on their lunch break after the storm on Oct. 29.

They have collected everything from sweatshirts, socks, hats and winter coats to toiletries like toothpaste and deodorant. They also have piles of nonperishable foods and household items like Sharpie markers, pencils, shoelaces and cough drops.

“It’s all the stuff you couldn’t replace in a day if you lost everything,” said McKay.

The women have been moved by the support and stories they continue to hear out of the New York and New Jersey areas where the storm hit the hardest.

“People are burning furniture just to keep warm,” said McKay. “It’s so close to home. I could have been us.”

Doherty said her sister told her about one family who moved to Hoboken, N.J., when their world was turned upside down by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Now, the storm has destroyed their home and everything they have.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Doherty.

The women are leaving on Saturday morning from the Dunkin’ Donuts and will be in New York for the weekend helping at shelters.

They are still collecting donations even though they aren’t sure it will all fit in the van they rented, which has been a struggle to pay for. Every night until they leave, they will be at the Dunkin Donuts’ from 5 to 5:15 p.m. accepting donations.